diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/plot.py b/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
index 00a192d209..74a25b93e7 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
@@ -199,7 +199,8 @@ def __init__(self, keys=None, dimensions=None, layout_dimensions=None,
 
         comm = None
         if self.dynamic or self.renderer.widget_mode == 'live':
-            self.comm = self.renderer.comms[self.renderer.mode][0](self)
+            comm = self.renderer.comms[self.renderer.mode][0](self)
+        self.comm = commm
         params = {k: v for k, v in params.items()
                   if k in self.params()}
         super(DimensionedPlot, self).__init__(**params)